27 May 2014 — Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. made a farewell call on the Botswana Foreign Minister Phandu T.C. Skelemani on May 9 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Gaborone. During the call, Ambassador Vingno highlighted the increased people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Botswana, particularly the cultural interaction between both sides, which reached a pinnacle during the Filipino Cultural Night held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre in November last year.
Ambassador Vingno thanked the Foreign Minister for the donation made by the Botswana Government of two light trucks for the post Yolanda (Haiyan) relief and rehabilitation efforts, and recalled that some of the proceeds of the Filipino Cultural Night were also donated to typhoon victims.
Foreign Minister Skelemani spoke highly of the Filipino community in Botswana and mentioned that a number of them have already acquired Botswana citizenship. He is also keenly aware of the presence in Botswana of several Filipino doctors specializing in cardiology and neurology.
The Ambassador also met Mr. Dennis Green, Manager of Investment Promotion of Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and Mr. Peter Cer Sanchez, Country Manager of Okapi Botswana (Pty) Ltd to discuss the upcoming trade mission of Bostwana business delegation headed by the Trade and Industry Minister Dorcas Makagato Malesu. The mission would be interested to look into opportunities with Philippines under the following sectors: agriculture and agro-processing, automotive components and manufacturing, business and financial services, ICT-enables services, human capital development, and tourism.
The Filipino community in Botswana held a farewell party for Ambassador Vingno and Madame Yoko Ramos-Vingno at the compound of the Pipework Services company in Gaborone. Ambassador Vingno and Madame Yoko thanked the community for the cooperation they extended to him during his tour of duty. The Philippine Embassy has nominated the Filipino Association in Botswana for one of the 2014 Presidential Awards for Overseas Filipino Organization. END
